I think I have some sense of why this whole conversation might be frustrating. Rape has a psychological element that thrives on shame. In our justice system the burden is always on the accuser, but that burden falls especially hard when there are significant disincentives to reporting the crime, and testifying about it…

I think the take-away, for me, is that this a post that should have stayed in my head, and off the page. We all have our musings, and the kind of conversation we might have over beers with friends. But That’s very different than posting something on the Atlantic’s website…

For me the salient facts are as follows: I have no idea what happened, and in such an instance, it’s almost never a good idea to start publicly riffing. Rape is a serious accusation, and a kind of crime that presents a specific problem to those who like to bat these kind of things around. I’m not convinced that my contribution to the conversation–absent of any real facts–actually helps anyone, or clarifies anything

Coates’ response is heartening, and speaks to his integrity as a journalist. It is an important move because media skepticism of sexual assault and rape allegations has the potential to add to rape’s stigma. 60 percent of rapes are never reported and, as Coates said, “Rape has a psychological element that thrives on shame,” which likely plays a role in the vast underreporting.

I would like to thank Coates for acknowledging the shortcomings of his initial analysis. In doing so he sends the important message that trivializing rape allegations is dangerous and unethical. It is my hope that other journalists will take notice.